Steve Liptay is an independent filmmaker who was documenting the valve-turning action in Leonard, MN. Steve was arraigned today on two misdemeanor charges in Bagley, MN for filming the October 11 action. He released the following statement:

It’s been three weeks since five brave valve-turners shut down the tar sands oil flowing into the United States, and 11 people--valve-turners, supporters and documentarians--are being charged with a multitude of felonies and misdemeanors from Assembling Saboteurs to Conspiracy to Tamper or Damage a Public Service.

But these folks are not rolling over or giving over to fear. The valve-turners are preparing to argue that these actions are critically necessary, and are ready to defend what they have done.

Court dates are coming up on a rolling basis. And we’re facing more expenses than expected: we are having to pay substantial fees to hire lawyers. In North Dakota alone this will cost $35,000.

In addition to the 10 arrested during the action itself, Steve Liptay, a documentarian covering the action in Minnesota, received charges in the mail a week and a half ago. He is due in court today.

Michael, Sam and Deia - arrested in North Dakota - are scheduled in court on November 7th. Your support will make sure that they are adequately defended, and that their stories of valiant action in the face of climate cataclysm will be shared across the country and around the world.

Many of you said that you were interested in taking action, and others told us you were ready to help raise money to support this work. We’ll be getting back in touch with you over the coming weeks to follow up.

"Pipeline sabotage by environmental activists that shook the North American energy industry this week had its roots in a 2013 protest off Massachusetts, when two men in a 32-foot lobster boat blocked a 40,000-ton coal shipment to a power station."

"The action was conducted by Climate Direct Action, but Deia was not part of the group and did not participate in the action, only filmed it. Her film footage was confiscated and she is currently being held in jail."

Last month in an interview with the New York Times you described the latest climate science as “terrifying.” You made this observation while on vacation in Hawaii, where the Times reported that you spent a lot of time swimming. It may have been difficult to fully let go and relax, knowing that the fine beaches of your beautiful home state on which you were lying will shortly be submerged as the ice shelves in Antarctica and Greenland speed toward collapse.